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The first time I went to the Michigan State Fair I was chased across the fairgrounds by a prize pig that had escaped its pen. While the chance of my repeating that memory disappeared when the State Fair closed its doors in late 2009, I have since visited dozens of other fairs and carnivals in the metro Detroit area. From a world-famous art fair to free classic jazz and other music, metro Detroit loves a good time and isn't afraid to show it.

Ann Arbor Art Fairs

Metro Detroit is home to what is perennially picked as the number one art fair in the country, the Ann Arbor Art Fair (artfair.org). The Art Fair started as one small street fair on South University in Ann Arbor and has grown to a conglomeration of four different art fairs, which display the works of over 1,000 artists from around the globe. The fair runs Wednesday through Saturday, two weeks after the Fourth of July weekend. You'll find fine art and humble crafts, food from around the world, children's activities and enough artwork to keep you busy looking for hours.

Monroe Country Fair

If you're searching for an old-fashioned country fair, the Monroe County Fair (monroecountyfair.com) is the place to go. Held the first week in August every year, the fair features a little bit of everything for family entertainment, including carnival rides, a demolition derby, monster truck shows, a livestock competition, traditional competitions for farm and home goods such as jams and crafts, carnival food like elephant ears and corn dogs, as well as exhibitions put on by schools, scout troops and community groups.

Detroit Jazz Festival

Music lovers from around the world descend on Detroit every Labor Day weekend for the Detroit Jazz Festival (detroitjazzfest.com). Founded in 1980, the festival is known for bringing together scores of world-class musicians for a weekend of free concerts in Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit. Every high-end jazz artist, from Sonny Rollins and Wynton Marsalis, to Chick Corea and George Benson have played here, and the list gets longer every year.

Michigan Renaissance Festival

If you're a fan of knights and ladies or of turkey legs and mugs of mead, put the Michigan Renaissance Festival (michrenfest.com) on your summer agenda. The fair has a dedicated fairground in Holly, which is north of Detroit. Ren Fest sets up for seven weekends, from late August through the first few days of October, and shows run rain or shine. The fair features knights, fair maidens, bawdy wenches and swashbuckling pirates. You'll see dozens of shows and small acts, indulge in tasty treats and interact with hundreds of people who will talk to you in-character all day long.

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About the Author

Working in sunny Florida, Anne Baley has been writing professionally since 2009. Her home and lifestyle articles have been seen on Coldwell Banker and Gardening Know How. Baley has published a series of books teaching how to live a frugal life with style and panache.